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No one should face life-saving surgery unprepared.

Each year, more than 165,000 Australians are diagnosed with cancer. Over 80% will require surgery as part of their treatment.

Yet too many patients face life-saving operations without the physical and mental strength needed for recovery. Researchers at Hunter Medical Research Institute are working to change that.

Your support can help our researchers create real-world solutions that will improve treatments, support patients and create healthier communities.

After being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in 2025, Ros endured 28 days of radiotherapy and five rounds of chemotherapy before facing a gruelling nine-hour surgery to remove her tumour.

These treatments had taken a devastating toll, leaving her weak, malnourished, and battling blood clots and pneumonia — too unwell to undergo surgery.

Until she was introduced to the surgery pre-habilitation program C-SPRITES.

Hear her story below…

Being part of C-SPRITES not only helped Ros get through surgery, but recover so well she was able to leave hospital in half the usual time.

Programs like C-SPRITES are not available to everyone.

What differentiates C-SPRITES from other prehab programs is how services are delivered. For cancer patients living in regional areas, vast geographical distances can make access to prehab services almost impossible, but C-SPRITES is looking to bring the service straight to the doorstep, at no cost to patients.

Meet Dr Jennifer Mackney

As a clinical physiotherapist and researcher, she’s seen firsthand
what cancer treatment does to the body.

C-SPRITES is a prehabilitation program led by Dr Mackney. The four-week program aims to improve equity of access to prehab services for cancer patients throughout regional and rural areas and prepare them for upcoming surgeries.

C-SPRITES takes a whole-person approach to preparing cancer patients for surgery, bringing together three core areas of support:

Physical Fitness: Physically stronger patients going into surgery tend to cope better with the demands placed on the body including blood loss, anaesthesia and immobility.

Nutrition: Good nutrition plays a vital role in how the body recovers from surgery. When nutritional needs are unmet, the immune system can become compromised, making patients vulnerable to post-operative infections and complications.

Psychological wellbeing: Preparing for surgery is not just a physical journey, but emotional. A patient’s psychological wellbeing before surgery can have areal impact on their physical recover.

Today, you can help ensure that our researchers can continue to create accessible health solutions for patients.

Donate before June 30. Every breakthrough we make starts with support from people like you, and every dollar helps bring better care to more patients, sooner.

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